The Environment Bill will have its report stage in the House of Commons on 26th January 2021. The Campaign is concerned that the bill still contains significant prohibitions on the disclosure of information by the new Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) and by public authorities that will be investigated by it for serious breaches of environmental law.
These prohibitions would, on the face of it, override the right of access to environmental information under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). DEFRA suggests the bill will not have this effect – but nothing in the bill itself expressly guarantees that the right of access will continue.
The Campaign says it is vital this is clarified. The easiest way of clarifying the matter would be by an amendment stating that the prohibitions do not prevent disclosure in accordance with the Aarhus Convention, an international treaty to which the EIR give effect.
Read our report stage briefing for MPs.